Method of making cushion soles



J. M. CONNELL METHOD OF- MAKING CUSHION SOLES May 18, 1954 Filed May 13,1953 Patented May 18, 1954 UNITED STATEQ FP'TENT OFFICE.

METHOD OF MAKING CUSHION SOLES Application May 13, 1953, Serial No.354,775

4 Claims.

The invention relates to the manufacture of cushion soles such as thoseused on bed room slippers and similar soft shoes.

The object of the invention is to produce with a minimum of labor andexpense, a, cushion sole which is covered with a single piece of leatheror similar material, on the bottom and sides, which requires nostitching to hold the cover in place, which retains its shape whenassembled, and which may be applied to a shoe without stitching ortacks.

In the drawings illustrating the invention,

Fig. l is a plan view of the blank from which the sole cover is formed,

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the forming apparatus with a sole cover inplace,

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the sole cover on the forming apparatus,

Fig. 4 is a cross-section of a partly assembled sole, and

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of a completed sole.

The sole cover 6 is formed from a blank, which, as shown in Fig. l, iscut in the general shape of the finished sole indicated by the dot anddash line I, with a margin 8 all around. The heel part 9 of the marginis notched around the edge to form tabs Ill, and the toe portion H of thmarsin is similarly notched to form tabs l2. The blank is dampened andlaid over a Wooden form I3 which is of the same shape and size as thecushion sole and has a heel form 14 attached.

The margin 8 of the blank is drawn up tightly all around the edge of thform, pulled over, and secured by tacks i9 applied to tabs and I2 and tothe edges of the side margins.

A wooden bar I is laid across the under side of the cover along theforward edge of heel form [4 and a similar bar It laid on top of theform. The bars are clamped together by metal straps I1 and i8 slippedover the ends.

. As the cover dries, it assumes the shape of the form, the heel form Itforming a pocket 20. The formed cover is removed from the form, and thesole 2| which may be of felt, sponge rubber, or similar springymaterial, is inserted in the cover. A heel 22 of similar material, whichhas been previously cemented to the sole, fits into heel pocket 20. Thetabs H1 and I2, and side portions of margin 8 are cemented to the uppersurface of sole 2!. The assembled sole may then be cemented to anassembled upper and insole of conventional type.

What is claimed is:

l. The method of making a covered sole which comprises the followingsteps; first forming a sole cover by laying a blank of formable sheetmaterial over the bottom surface of a rigid form which has the sameshape as the sole to be covered and has an attached heel form, pullingover the margins of the blank and securing them to the top surface ofthe form, clamping a bar against the form on the outside of the coveralong the forward edge of the heel form, and allowing the cover toremain in place until formed; removing the cover from the form;inserting a sole and heel into the cover; and attaching the margins ofthe cover to the upper surface of the sole.

The method of making a covered sole which comprises the following steps;dampening a blank of thin leather; formin the blank into a cover bylaying it over the bottom surface of a rigid form which has the sameshape as the sole to be covered and has an attached heel form, pullingover the margins of the blank and securing them to the upper surface ofthe form, clamping a bar against the form on the outside of the coveralong the forward edge of the heel form, and leaving the cover on theform until dry; removing the cover from the form; insertin a sole andheel into the cover; and cementing the margin of the cover to the uppersurface of the sole.

3. The method of making a covered sole which comprises the followingsteps; cutting from a piece of formable sheet material a blank of largersize than the sole to be covered but of the same general outline, andhaving notches forming tabs around its heel and toe margins; forming theblank into a cover by laying it over the bottom surface of a rigid form,which has the same shape .as the sole to be covered and has an attachedheel form, pulling over the margins of the blank, securing the marginsand tabs to the top surface of the form, clampin a bar against the formon the outside of the cover to remain in place until formed; removingthe cover from the form; inserting a sole and heel into the cover; andcementing the margins and tabs of the cover to the upper surface of thesole.

4. The method of making a covered sole which comprises the followingsteps: forming a blank of formable sheet material into a cover by layingthe blank over the bottom surface of a rigid form which has the sameshape as the sole to be covered and has an attached heel form, pullingover the margin of the blank and securing it to the upper surface of theform, laying a bar on the outside of the cover along the forward edge ofthe heel form, laying a second bar on the upper surface of the formopposite the first bar, drawing the bars together to clamp the coveragainst the sole form adjacent the forward edge of the heel form, andleaving the cover in place until formed; removing the cover from theform; inserting a sole and heel into the cover; and attaching the marginof the cover to the upper surface of the sole.

No references cited.

